Washington’s proposed Game Management Plan available online

Trends in controversial issues such as big-game baiting, lead shot restrictions and wolf management are mapped out in Washington’s draft 2015-21 Game Management Plan that was revised in October.

The plan is online and available for public comment through Monday at wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/game.

The document, which must be approved by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission, will guide the Washington’s game-management policy over the next six years.

Dave Ware, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife game manager, said the revised plan includes changes proposed by the public during the initial comment period. 

Key issues addressed by those changes include predator-prey relationships, he said.

The commission is scheduled to consider adoption of the plan in December.

The main issues identified by the public were categorized into several key areas:

•Scientific management of hunted wildlife

•Public support for hunting as a management tool

•Hunter ethics and fair chase

•Private lands programs and hunter access

•Tribal hunting

•Predator management

•Hunting season regulations

•Game damage and nuisance

•Species-specific management issues

New issues or emphasis areas that surfaced during the initial comment period and meetings include:

•Wildlife conflict management

•Recruitment and retention of Hunters

•Disease impacts

•Non-toxic ammunition

•Re-introduction of pronghorn

•Wolf management

The Game Management Plan is separate at this point from the three-year package of hunting regulations proposals for  2015-17. The deadline for comment on the initial proposals ended earlier this fall.

However, the hunting regulations proposals touch on some of the same topics, including possible restrictions on baiting for big game.